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McPeek Trio to Face Thoughtfully in Alcibiades

The trainer has compiled a 4-7-3 record with 20 Alcibiades (G1) starters.

Simply Ravishing wins the P. G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course

Simply Ravishing wins the P. G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Race Course

Coglianese Photos

Trainer Kenny McPeek has run 20 horses in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, winning it four times and hitting the board with 10 others.

Now, as the race kicks off opening day of the fall meet Oct. 2 at the Lexington track, McPeek tries something he has never done: start three entrants in the same renewal. His trio of Crazy Beautiful, Oliviaofthedesert, and Simply Ravishing are his challengers to race headliner and Adirondack Stakes (G2) winner Thoughtfully.

Just once has McPeek run multiple entrants, when Galloping Gal and Deb's Charm ran 2-3 behind the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Be Gentle in 2003, but circumstances this year dictated the move.

First, McPeek is loaded in the division. Second, the Breeders' Cup is at Keeneland this fall, leaving the Alcibiades as a perfect trial in preparation for the $2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 6. Both races are around two turns on dirt at 1 1/16 miles.

"I don't know that I want to ship up to New York with the Breeders' Cup here—ship up and ship back," McPeek said of the alternative of sending one of his fillies to Belmont Park for a race such as the Oct. 10 Frizette Stakes (G1). "I'd like to win another Alcibiades. I might as well take all my bullets and fire 'em."

His victories in the Alcibiades came with She's a Devil Due (2000), Take Charge Lady (2001), Dream Empress (2008), and Restless Rider (2018).

Though none of his three starters boasts a graded stakes win, all have earned black type. Crazy Beautiful won the Runhappy Debutante at Ellis Park before a troubled runner-up finish in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs; Oliviaofthedesert rallied to grab third in the Mint Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs; and Simply Ravishing won a maiden special weight on grass at Saratoga Race Course before a 6 1/2-length victory in the off-the-turf P. G. Johnson Stakes there.

Video

Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Crazy Beautiful ran into traffic when attempting to rally from last in the Pocahontas. Early in that race, the 2-year-old Liam's Map  filly also cut the heel of a front leg with a rear hoof.

"Her last couple of races she had troubled trips. I think she's begging for two turns," McPeek said.

McPeek is excited by the potential shown by Simply Ravishing, who has trained promisingly since the P. G. Johnson. 

"This is a really good filly," he said.

Harold Lerner owns the New York-bred daughter of Laoban with McPeek's Magdalena Racing and Nehoc Stables.

Susan Moulton's Oliviaofthedesert is likely to be the longest odds of the McPeek trio, though her trainer views the Bernardini filly as a move-forward candidate following a surface change after racing on grass at Kentucky Downs.

"I think she's a better dirt horse than she is a turf horse. I think she's another that is going to relish the mile and sixteenth," he said.

Corey Lanerie will ride Oliviaofthedesert. Brian Hernandez Jr. and Luis Saez will be aboard Crazy Beautiful and Simply Ravishing, respectively. 

Heider Family Stables' Thoughtfully is 2-for-2, winning at Churchill Downs going 5 1/2 furlongs and later at Saratoga in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack, each time coming from just off the early pace.

Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Thoughtfully wins the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course

The Tapit  filly is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Pension, making her related to two stakes winners, including Annual Report (by Harlan's Holiday), the winner of the six-furlong Futurity Stakes (G2) at Belmont in 2015.

Regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. returns aboard the rail-drawn filly for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who seeks his first Alcibiades victory. The trainer has three victories in the Frizette since 2011, but his five Alcibiades starters dating to 2003 have gone unplaced. 

Such a disappointing finish from Thoughtfully would be a surprise. Her maiden victory came by 8 3/4 lengths, the Adirondack by five lengths.

Other entrants in the seven-horse Alcibiades, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Juvenile Fillies, include Xtrema, fourth in the Pocahontas, and first-out winners Travel Column and Gramercy. Post time is 5:40 p.m. ET.

Friday's 10-race card is supported by the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2), another official Breeders' Cup Challenge race, one that provides automatic, paid entry into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 7.

The entire fall meet at Keeneland will be conducted without fans as a COVID-19 safety measure. Limited owner and media attendance is permitted in addition to participating horsemen.

Entries: Darley Alcibiades S. (G1)

Keeneland, Friday, October 2, 2020, Race 9

  • Grade I
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $350,000
  • 2 yo Fillies
  • 5:40 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
11Thoughtfully (KY)Ricardo Santana, Jr.122Steven M. Asmussen3/1
22Travel Column (KY)Florent Geroux122Brad H. Cox7/2
33Oliviaofthedesert (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateCorey J. Lanerie122Kenneth G. McPeek12/1
44Crazy Beautiful (KY)Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.122Kenneth G. McPeek5/2
55Xtrema (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJames Graham122J. Keith Desormeaux15/1
66Gramercy (KY)Joel Rosario122Eoin G. Harty9/2
77Simply Ravishing (NY)Luis Saez122Kenneth G. McPeek3/1